Radiator for airplane engines



Apr. 24, 1923. 1,452,958

E. T. CURRAN RADIATOR FOR AIRPLANE ENGINES Filed Aug. 1'7, 1918 2Sheets-Sheet 1 3141mm v Ion A RD Tau/mm Fatented Apr. 24, 1923.

UNITED STATES EDWARD '1. CURRAN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

RADIATOR FOB AIRPLANE ENGINES.

Application filed August 17, 1918- Serial N0. 250,277.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD T. CURRAN,citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne,State of M1ch1- gan. have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Radiators for Airplane Engines, and declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact descriptionpf the same, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to radlators to be applied to airplane engines.Heretofore the great variation in temperature due to the rapid transferof an airplane eng ne while working practically at full capaclty fromlower to high altitudes and vice versa, renders the maintenance of theproper temperature of the engine very difficult. The radiator I havedevised is intended to overcome this difiiculty and place thetemperature of the engine largely under the control of the aviator.Another object is to reduce the air or head resistance and to produce amore efiicient cooling system.

My invention consists in the various novel arrangements and combinationshereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1, is a sketch view of an airplane body without wings, as it willappear with my radiator attached.

Figure 2, is an enlar ed sectional view of the front end of the airplaneof the type in which the propelling fan is of the draft type.

Figure 3, is a further sectional view illustrating the connection.

Figure 4, is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view I through the radiator.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical section with parts broken away.

Similar letters refer to similar parts.

In the drawings A, represents the body of an airplane, B, the radiator.The body A carries an engine E, which is diagrammatically shown. Thisengine is of the usual water cooled type, with water jackets andcommunications e to the radiator. As shown in Figure 3, the radiator hasa tank C, from "which depend water legs D D, which open into' a waterreturn "flow F,

which in turn communicates with the englne through the pipe e. The waterlegs D are formed by vertical partitions eittendlng from the upper tankC to the lower tank F. Diagonally cutting the water legs D, areadditional water tubes G G, which extend through said partitions andalso communlcate with the tank C and the water legs D, and open into thewater receptacle F. Through the tank C, are vertical openings H H, whichperforate the tank and commumcate with the spaces between the water legsD, and in the rear of each of these openings H H, are placed rotatablewings J J, which are hinged to the tank C or radiator hood at the rearof each of the openings H H. These wings extend across the top of theradiator and are adapted to be held down as shown in Figure 3, so as tocover the openings H H. In Figure 3, these openings are shown nearlvclosed by these wings; in Figure 2, they are shown wide open. \Vhen thewings are open or partlally open, due to the rapid propulslon of theairplane through the air, the air is forced downward through the opemngsH H and thence through the radlator 1n direction of the arrows aroundthe diagonal pipes G G and out through opemngs whlch perforate the lowerwater passage F, thereby producing a cooling effect due to thestaggering and irregular passage through which it must pass. Thecirculation of the air is thus transversely through the radiator andalso transverse to the direction in which the radiator travels.

In addition thereto I have provided another means of cooling due to afunnelshaped water jacketed conical opening at K, (Fig. 2) the largeropening being in front of the radiator and the smaller opening K, at therear of the radiator. L, is the shaft of the propeller passing through ashaft opening M, which opening may also be large enough to permit air topass through. The separate funnel opening K, might be dispensed with andthe shaft opening M be used in lieu thereof as in Fig. 6.

Of course the propeller shaft bearings are of the usual type and neednot be described. As herebefore stated, the wings or shutters J J areconnected together by a rod N, which is continued to means for controlas a notched quadrant and lever at P. Wherever the operator or pilot isplaced, it is place the shutteis on the under side of the radiator andforce the air upwardtherethrough, instead of downward as shown in thedrawing. I do not therefore confine myself to the exact location of theadjustable shutters. The flattened tubes G may be staggered as shown inFigs. 4 and 5.

The operation of this device is very read-- ily apprehended from thedescription. The airplane flying through the air always experiences whatmight be termed a head wind, otherwise it would not fiy at all.

The proportions ofradiation can be so adjusted, that ordinary coolingmight be read ily efi'ected through the conical water-jacketed tube K orthe shaft opening; but when .at high altitude and the air is rare andtherefore less efiective for cooling and the engine is working at ahigher speed, the means shown for controlling the circulation of air canbe adjusted to suit conditions and the amount of air thus passingthrough the 4 radiator, is within the operators judgment.

While I have shown a thermo-siphon circulation, it is obvious that theusual water pumps would be installed to produce a forced circulation,-but they would not in i any manner add to or modify my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a radiator, an upper water space, a lower water space, the outersurfaces thereof being at an angle'to each other so that if prolongedthey would meet in a frontal direotion, water legs connecting the twowater spaces, water tubes passing diagonally from one water space to theother and connecting with the water legs, passageways 'in the waterspace through which air may pass transversely through the radiator andmeans for controlling the passage of air therethrough.

2. In a radiator an upper water space, a lower water space, the outersurfaces thereof being forwardly convergent at an angle to each other sothat if prolonged they would meet in a frontal direction, water legsconnecting the upper and lower water spaces, water tubes connectin thewater spaces but passing diagonally rom one water space to the other andintersecting and communicating with the water legs.

3. In a radiator, an upper water s ace, a lower water space, the outersurfaces t ereof being forwardly convergent at an angle neeaeee to eachother so that if rolonged they would meet in a frontal irection, waterlegs connecting the upper and'lower water spaces, water tubes connectingthe water spaces but passing diagonally from one water space to theother and intersecting and communicating the with water legs, and wmeans whereby air is caused to clrculate between the water legs andaround the wa-- ter tubes.

4. In a radiator, an u per erforated water space, a lower per oratewater space partitions connecting the water spaces an forming chambersbetween them, water tubes communicating with and passing di-. agonallyfrom one water space to the other and through the partition, means forcausing air to pass transversely throu h the water spaces and chambersformed y. the partitions and aroundthe water tubes, for the purposedescribed;

' 5. In a radiator, an upper erforated water space, a lower perforatewater space partitions connecting the water spaces an forming chambersbetween them, water tubes communicating with and passing diagonally fromone water space to the other and through the partitions, means forcausing air to pass transversel through the water spaces and chambersormed by the partitions and around the water tubes, and means forcontrolling the circulation of the air, substantially as described.

6. A radiator for vehicles, formed with water passages and air channels,said air channels extending through the radiator in a directiontransverse to the direction of travel, and terminating in openings inthe forwardly and rearwardly extending walls of the radiator, andshutters hinged to said walls in rear of said openings and extendingforwardly and outwardly from the walls.

7. A radiator for vehicles, formed with water passages and air channels,said air channels extending through the radiator in a directiontransverse to the direction of travel, and terminating in openings inthe forwardly and rearwardl extending walls of the radiator, shuttershinged to said walls in rear of said openings and extending forwardlyand outwardly from the walls, and a single actuating device connected tooperate all of the shutters into position to close said openings.

8. A radiator comprising vertical water legs or columns, diagonal spacedwater tubes connecting said columns, and means to cause a downwardcirculation of air through the spaces between the water tubes.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification.

EDWARD T. CURRAN.

